Forging press



June 13, 1967 J. FOSTER ETAL.

FORGING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14. 1962 FIG.

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June 13, 1967 J. FOSTER ET AL 3,324,703

FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 14. 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

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FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 7

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I IN VEN TORS' Em/um United States Patent 3,324,703 FORGING PRESS JohnFoster, Manchester, and Peter Ball, tocirport,

Cheshire, Engiand, assignors to B. & S. Massey 8: Sons Limited, acorporation of Great Britain, Northern Ireiand and Isle of Man FiledNov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,685 19 Claims. (Ci. 72-421) This inventionconcerns forging presses.

Forging presses are Well known and are used to produce a large varietyof forgings. Basically the press consists of a fixed bottom member orbolster and a movable tup. Die parts are removably secured to thebolster and to the tup.

To produce a forging it is in many cases necessary to use a multi-stagedie set-up in which a blank is for example, initially pressed toconcentrate metal into the required positions, is rough forged andfinally forged and then trimmed.

Such a sequence of operations is carried out by hand, the press operatormoving the forging during production from die to die as requested. AsWill be appreciated it is essential that the forging during productionis accurately located in the various dies so that the end product isaccurately formed. As a result of this requirement, and the fact thatthe forging is moved by hand during production the output of forgings isrelatively low.

Automatic transfer mechanisms have in the past been used in sheet metalworking but when applied to hot forging it is inevitable that theoperating mechanism will become fouled with scale. In some automatictransfer mechanisms the transfer is controlled by pneumatic orelectro-pneumatic means and in such arrangement difficulties arise dueto varying time constants in the pneumatic valves and cylinders and alsoin their operating solenoids. In consequence of variations in timeconstants it is extremely difficult to achieve and maintain exactsynchronism of movement with the rotation of the eccentric shaft of thetup, particularly at the high operating speeds which are desirable inhot forging operations.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to overcomethe above difiiculties.

According to the present invention there is provided an automatictransfer mechanism arranged to transfer a blank during forging from onedie of a multistage die set to the next, said transfer mechanismincluding a series of pairs of gripping fingers each pair being arrangedfor movement into a gripping position and subsequent movement from onestage to the next whilst carrying the metal to be forged, and returnmovement of its initial position whilst forging is proceeding.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional elevation of a forging press;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the press of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of the press;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged part sectional detail view of part of the press,and

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are enlarged part sectional detail views of anotherpart of the press;

FIG. 7 is a diagramatic end view on FIG. 3 with parts omitted, and

FIG. 8 shows a section view of the pump unit.

In the following description, reference will be made to the productionof a forging that can be produced in four stages but of course this doesnot restrict the invention to the production of such a forging.

Basically the forging, given the blank piece, can be produced bycarrying out the following steps;

(1) Forming a basic shape to concentrate metal in the Patented June 13,1967 required parts thereof and to de-scale the metal (herein referredto as pre-forming) (2) Rough forging from the pre-formed piece.

(3) Final forging of the rough forging, and

(4) Trimming of the final forging.

Prior to pre-forming and de-scaling, a basic shape is sheared from fiatbar.

The basic shapes are cut out to the required size in an operation whichproduces the minimum of waste. To achieve this the shapes may be cutdiagonally from a long flat metal bar.

In addition to the four forging stages above referred to it is necessarycorrectly to locate the basic shape for transfer to the pre-forming dieof the forging press. Preforming in the instance being described iscarried out with the shape initially located on edge, the remainingstages are carried out after the pre-formed piece has been turnedthrough so that the forging press transfer mechanism to be describedmust be arranged not only to transfer the piece from one stage to thenext but also to turn it between the pre-forrning and the rough forgingstages through the said 90.

The steps above referred to have in the past been carried out manually.

The general lay-out of one form of forging press and transfer mechanismwill be described.

The press is provided, between the frame members 10, with a bolster 11upon which can be mounted a multistage die set 12. The die set isadjustable for height and between it and the bolster 11 and the base ofthe press are located wedges 13. The dies 14 lie in line one behind theother from front to rear of the bolster 11. There is also provided areceiving station 15 (FIG. 3) for the basic shapes.

The receiving station 15 is in effect formed by the end of a belt orchain conveyor (not shown). The conveyor is driven in synchronism withtransfer mechanism yet to be described. Shapes are fed to the conveyorfrom a furnace or furnaces (not shown) and in the latter case therewould be provided a means for depositing the heated shape on theconveyor from each furnace, for example, a chute or pivoted arm could beprovided to transfer the shapes from the furnace to the conveyor.

The conveyor is arranged to receive shapes edgeon in spacedrelationship, the spacing being determined by the speed of operation ofthe transfer mechanism. Preferably the conveyor is driven from theeccentric drive of the press.

Extending along the sides of the press from front to rear and on a levelcorresponding to the level of the die set 12 are two box section frames16 within each of which is located mechanism for operating grippingfingers. In the arrangement being described there are five transferoperations to be carried out in succession and therefore there are foursets of fingers in each box frame 16. The fingers of the box frames 16are aligned across the width of the press so that a basic shape, roughblank, rough forging or finished forging can be gripped at each endduring a transfer operation. The ends of each box frame 16 are slidablycarried on cross bars 17 located respectively at the front and the ofthe die set 12. Each cross bar 17 is provided with notches 18 which arespaced on either side of the centre of cross bars. The ends of the boxframes 16 are provided with locking bolts not shown, which can be seatedin the notches 18 to lock each of the box frames 16 in any one of anumber of positions depending upon the width of die set being used.

Alongside the outer face of each of the box frames 16 is located a camshaft 20 (FIG. 3). At thefront of the press each of the cam shafts 20 issecured, by means of a universal coupling 21, to a splined rod 22 thesplines of which enter a corresponding internally splined tube 23 towhich is attached, by means of a further universal coupling 24, theoutput shaft of a mitre gear unit 26. The input shaft 27 of the gearunit 26 extends towards the centre line of the press and there carries achain sprocket 28 which is driven via a chain 29 directly in synchronismwith the eccentric shaft 30 of the press.

The notched cross bars 17 are pivotally attached to the upper ends ofcranked support (or side) arms 31, there being one side arm 31 locatedadjacent each end of the box frame 16. The side arms 31 each have, attheir lower ends, pivotal connection with a bell crank lever system. Thebell crank lever system comprises at the front and the rear of thepress, a cross shaft 32 journalled in the frame 10. The cross shaft 32carries at its centre a single centre arm 33 which extends substantiallyvertically upwardly. Aligned with each side arm 31 and mounted on theshafts 32 is a substantially horizontally disposed lever arm 34.

Mounted on a bracket 35a in the base of the press is pivoted lever 35which extends upwardly below the centre of the bolster 11. The upper endof the lever 35 has pivotally attached thereto an articulated connectingrod 36 one end of which is attached to the rear centre arm 33 and theother is attached to the front centre arm 33. Below the pivot point ofthe articulated rod 36 is a pivoted link 37 one end of which isconnected to the lever 35 and the other end of which is connected to aneccentric shaft 38. Each side arm 31 is connected to its associatedlever arm 34 by a shaft 101, see FIG. 7.

The above described arrangement serves to cause upward and downwardmovement of the side arms and thus the box frames 16. This movement iscaused as the eccentric shaft 38 rotates and therefore pivots the lever35 about its pivot on the bracket 35a. The articulated rod 36 is thusmoved forwardly and rearwardly by the lever to cause reciprocation ofthe cross shafts 32 and thus movement in a vertical arc of the leverarms 34 to vertically move the shaft 101, and the cross braced frame 102and side arms 31 connected thereto.

Combined with this movement is forward and rearward movement of the boxframes 16 and this is caused by cams 39 mounted upon a camshaft 40carried by a bracket 41 on the press frame 10. The cam shaft 40 islocated at the front of the press frame 10 and transversely of thelatter. Auxiliary arms 42 carry at their upper ends cam followers 43which bear on the cams 39 on the cam shaft 40. The auxiliary arms 42 areconnected to the side arms 31 by means of resiliently mounted drag links44 shown in chain lines on the drawings, and thus rotation of thecamshaft 40 causes the auxiliary arm to move in a horizontal arc therebymoving the side arms 31 forwardly and rearwardly. The cam followers 43are maintained in contact with the cams 39 by the action of a pneumaticpiston 92 during rearward movement of the auxiliary arms 42.

The cross braced frames 102 are also provided at each side with ahydraulic slave cylinder the ram of which is attached to the adjacentside arm 31. Side arms 31 have resilient mountings (rubber bush)slidably connecting the arms on shaft 101. Since the arms 31 are rubbermounted they can be pushed outwardly when the rams of slave cylinders 45extend. This arrangement serves to allow the side arms 31 to be movedaway from each other and thus to move the box frames 16 and away fromthe die set during forward movement. A return spring 45a showndiagrammatically in FIG. 3 is provided to cause the inward movement ofthe side arms 31 and box frames 16 prior to rearward movement.

A pump unit 46 for actuating the slave cylinders 45 is shown in FIGS. 2and 8. The pump unit contains a pumpshaft 103 rotatably driven by achain wheel 104 in contact with chain 85a. The pumpshaft has a cam face105 which engages a cam follower 106 on a rocker arm 107 pivotallymounted on a shaft 108. The upward and downward motion of the rocker armactuates the plunger 109 of the master clylinder 110 to provide fluid toone of the slave cylinders 45. It is to be understood that there will bea total of four such master cylinders within the pump unit 46, one foreach slave cylinder 45. Each master cylinder is actuated by a separaterocker arm and by a separate cam face on pumpshaft 103, as illustratedin FIG. 8.

Movement of the box frames 16 and thus their associated cam shafts 20towards and away from the die set does not affect drive to the camshafts, again due to the provision of the universal couplings 21 and 24above referred to.

Movement of the box frames 16 forwardly and rearwardly is alsoineffective insofar as drive to the cam shafts 20 is concerned, becauseof the provision of the splined rod 22 and splined tube 23 in the driveto the cam shafts 20.

The complete cycle of movement of the box frames 16 is as follows:

Inward movement combined with upward movement to bring the fingers (yetto be described) into a gripping position, continued upward movement tolift the gripped workpiece out of the lower die 12, rearward movement totransfer the workpiece from one stage to the next, downward movement todeposit the workpiece in the next successive die 14, outward anddownward movement, after release of the workpiece by the fingers, andforward movement to the initial starting position of the box frame 16.The above described cycle is accomplished as a smooth flowing movementof the box frame 16 and thus the movements set out overlap to give thesmooth resultant movement.

As referred to above both of the box frames 16 are mounted foradjustment toward or away from each other to cater for the use ofvarious sizes of die set 12. Although the provision of universalcouplings 21 and 24 in the camshaft drives is flexible enough to allowfor the normal operating cycle of the box frames 16 to be carried out itis undesirable to except the universal couplings and splines 22 to copewith the relatively large differences in operating position of the boxframes 16 and the camshafts 20 dependent upon the sizes of die set 12that can be used (this difference in position for each box frame may beup to four inches) and therefore provision is made to move the gearboxes 26 in unison wtih the side arms 31 and their associated box frames16 and the cam shafts 20.

The arrangement consists of mounting the gear boxes 26 on dovetailslides 47 and providing in a channel in the base of the slides a leftand right hand threaded screw 48. That is to say, the end portion of thescrew which threadably engages one of the gear boxes 26 is the righthandthreaded portion, and that part which engages the second gear box 26 isleft-hand threaded. One end of the screw 48 is provided with a handwheel 49 so that upon rotation of the hand wheel 49 the gear boxes 26will be moved as a result of their engagement with the right and lefthand threads of the screw 48 towards or away from each other topositions which will allow drive to the cam shaft 20 regardless of thesize of die set 12 being used. The small scale in which the screw 48 isdrawn does not permit of the showing of the right and left threads onit, but feed screws of this nature are known per se.

Referring now to the fingers used to grip a workpiece and transfer itfrom one die to the next it has already been stated that in one transfer(namely from the preforming to the rough forging) the workpiece isturned through This trans-fer calls for a special finger arrangementwhich will be described after reference has been made to the normalfinger arrangement which serves to grip and transfer a workpiece withoutturning it.

The normal gripping finger arrangement consists of a bracket 50supported on the box frame 16 below an aperture 51 in the innermost wallthereof. The bracket 50 carries a circular spigot 52 onto which can beremovably located a lower gripping finger 53 which has in its end asocket 54 into which the spigot 52 can be located and held by aremovable pin 55. The face of the finger 53 is provided with a V groove56 hereinafter referred to, extending along its longitudinal axis.

Aligned with the aperture 51 in the inner most face of the box frame isan aperture 57 in the outermost face. The apertures 51 and 57 arethemselves aligned with a cam 58 on the cam shaft 20. Pivotally mountedon a bracket 59 on the outermost face on the box frame 16 is a movingfinger support. This support comprises an arm 60 extending through thebox frame 16 and terminating at one end in a spigot 61 which is similarto the spigot 52 of the lower gripping finger. The other end of the arm60 is bifurcated and carries a cam follower 62 mounted for rotation on acam follower pin 63 which is retained in rubber bushes in thebifurcations of the arm 60. The arm 60 is pivoted adjacent the camfollower 63.

Below the cam follower is located a coil spring 64 which seats on afurther bracket 65 attached to the outermost wall of the box frame 16.The spring 64 serves to normally urge the fingers 53 into a grippingposition and, whilst the fingers 53 are being opened by the cam 58 toretain the cam follower 62 in contact with the cam 58.

Since the fingers 53 are mounted on the box frame 16 they will describethe cycle of movements of the box frame 16.

In addition, they will be opened and closed by combined action of thespring 64 and rotation of the cam shaft 20. The opening and closing ofthe fingers 53 is synchronised so that as the box frame 16 is travellingtowards the die set 12 the fingers 53 are commencing their closingmovement to grip the workpiece when this movement is completed.

The dwell of the cam 58 causes the gripping to be maintained until thebox frame 16 has almost completed its downward movement. Release of thegrip is completed before the fingers 53 are fully opened and at thattime the downward movement of the box frame 16 is completed. Completeopening of the fingers 53 is reached when the outward movement of thebox frame 16 is completed.

To enable the gripping action to be achieved, the dies 14 are so formedas to cause, at each stage of the forging a predetermined shape oftongue to be formed at the ends of the workpiece and therefore the shapeof the groove in the fingers 53 can be made accurately to conform tothis shape.

The gripping is achieved by pairs of fingers 53 disposed one at each endof the die set 12.

In the case of the gripping arrangement which also serves to transfer aworkpiece and also to rotate the workpiece through 90 the fingers 53 aresimilar to those above described and are removably mounted on spigots 52and 61 in the same manner.

One finger 53 is mounted upon a spigot 52 which is carried in a blindbore 66 in a rotatable outer sleeve 67 which passes through the boxframe 16. The outer sleeve 67 itself is mounted on ball races 68 whichare sealed by oil seals. The outer sleeve 67 is provided between itsends with a partition 69 through which passes a push rod 70 pivotallyconnected to the upper finger spigot 61. The spigot 61 itself isprovided with a lug 71 through which passes a pivot pin 72 which thespigot 61 is pivotally connected to the outer sleeve 67.

The partition 69 serves as an abutment for one end of a coil spring 73which encircles the push rods 70, the other end of the spring 73 abuts astop 74 on a spring locating sleeve 73a which lies between the spring 73and the push rod 70. Encircling the outer sleeve 67 is a locking ring75. A housing 76 contains a centre plug 77 having a seating for the endof the push rod 70. The plug 77 is carried by a thrust bearing 78mounted in trunnion carrier 79. The housing 76 and centre plug 77 areslidable on the outer sleeve 67 under the influence of a cam follower 80which is carried between a pair of arms 81 which encircle and grip thetrunnion carrier 79. The arms 81 are themselves pivoted below thecarrier on a bracket 83 depending from the box frame 16. The spring 73within the outer sleeve 67 serves normally to urge the fingers 53 into agripping position and, whilst the fingers 53 are being opened to holdthe cam follower 80 against a cam 84 on the cam shaft 20.

The opening and closing of the fingers 53 is controlled by rotation ofthe cam shaft 20 and the spring 73 which in turn causes the arms 81 andthus the carrier 79 to move towards the box frame 16. Movement of thecarrier 79 towards the frame 16 causes the push rod 70 to move and pivotits spigot 61 away from the fixed spigot 52. Movement in the oppositedirection causes the spigot 61 attached to the push rod 76 to movetowards the fixed spigot 52 to cause gripping of the workpiece. As abovedescribed the opening and closing of the fingers 53 is synchronised withthe movement of the box frame 16.

Rotary motion of the outer sleeve 67 and thus the fingers 53 is causedby pivotally attaching a connecting rod 85 to a bracket 86 clamped ontothe sleeve 67. The connecting rod 85 is pivotally attached to thebolster 11 so that as the box frame 16 moves the connecting rod 85pivots about a centre on the bolster 11 thereby to cause rotation of theouter sleeve 67 and its associated fingers 53 about the axis of thesleeve 67.

In order to prevent scale from entering the box frame 16 at the sides ofthe die set 12 low pressure air is supplied to the interior of the boxframes 16. The air is at sufficient pressure to blow through theapertures in the box frames 16 through which the gripping fingersspigots 52 and 61 pass and thus scale which flies from the workpiece isdeflected from the apertures and does not enter the box frames 16.

The air supplied from piper (not shown) which are connected to the lowerends of the side arms 31. The latter are hollow and therefore form aconduit along which the air passes. Flexible connecting pipes (notshown) are provided at the upper ends of the side arms 31 and these areattached to union on the box frames 16. The air also serves to cool themechanism within the box frames 16 and prevent distortion of the frames.Additional cooling is achieved by securing polished heat deflectorplates (not shown) on the inner faces of the box frames 16. These platesare spaced from the box frames 16 and air is supplied along the channelsthereby formed.

The drive for the various motions above referred to is from theeccentric shaft 30 of the press. On this shaft are located two chainsprockets one of which is wrapped by a chain 85a which drives a pumpunit 46 serving to control inward and outward movement of the box frames16.

A chain 86 wraps the second sprocket and this serves to drive the camshaft 40 for the transverse mechanism and, via a further chain drive 29and mitre gear boxes 26, the finger operating camshafts 20. The chain 86wrapping the second sprocket is tensioned by means of a pair of idlersprockets, 88, one located in each run of the chain 86. The idlersprockets 88 are adjustable towards and away from each other.

Drive for the eccentric shaft 38 which serves to lift box frames 16 isby means of a chain 89 which wraps a second chain sprocket on the camshaft 40. This latter chain 89 is tensioned in the manner above referredto by two further idler sprockets 90.

The pump unit 46 with its hydraulic fluid tank, is located at positionnear .to the top of the press frame 10 and is provided with four mastercylinder pump units. The plungers of the four master cylinders arereciprocated under spring influence by means of a single cam which bearsagainst four cam followers. Four pipes are attached, one to each outlet,and these pipes lead to .the slave cylinders 45 which control theoutward movement of the box frames 16. Since the drive for '7 the pumpunits 46 is derived directly from the eccentric shaft 30 the movementsof the box frames 16 can be accurately synchronised with the rise andfall of the .tup. The pump unit 46 is eccentrically mounted andtherefore the chain 85a can be synmmetrically tensioned,

Similar exact synchronism can be achieved for all of the othermechanical operations of the press.

At the trimming station 14 the forging is located over an open centraldie which allows the forging to fall through onto a-chute which liesdirectly below chute 92 after the flash has been trimmed off. The flashitself is carried away by further fingers (not shown) on the box framesto be deposited on a further chute 92. These fingers operate in themanner above described in relation to the non-rotatable transferfingers.

The above description is intended to set out only by way of example, oneform of mechanism which will operate and changes in the layout describedmay be made without departing from the basic invention which lies in theprovision of an automated forging press which is capable of high speedcontinuous operation whilst maintaining a high degree of accuracy. Oneof the principal reasons for desiring high speed operation is to reducewear in the dies 14 which occurs when the temperature of the metal, andthus its ability to flow, is allowed to fall. If the forging takes placewithout considerable heat loss the die life is increased and pressloading is kept down.

Although an arrangement has been described in which the dies arearranged front to rear of the press it is possible to use .the samearrangement in a press in which the dies are arranged side by side. Inthis case however, it may be necessary to provide additional side framesin the press for carrying the various mechanisms above referred to.

As an alternative to the conveyor system for bringing the shapes to thereceiving station there may be provided a chute along which the piecestravel after they have been heated in a furnace. The chute is providedwith an escapement which serves to ensure that one shape only is fed tothe receiving station at any one time. The chute divides a part wayalong its length so that heated pieces from several furnaces (forexample) three, can be fed to the press. The pieces are fed to thebranches of the chute on their sides and are turned edge on, due .to theshaping of the chute adjacent its junction with the branches, prior tobeing fed to the receiving station.

We claim:

1. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, aseries of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least oneof which is operable by said camshafts .to move into and out of agripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs ofgripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means tosynchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forgingpress.

2. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft andsaid adjacent side of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts inunison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers atleast one of which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out ofa gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs ofgripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means tosynchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forgingpress.

3. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft andsaid ad- 0 jacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for saidcamshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts,splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, andmeans for rotating said couplings and .thus said camshaft is unison, aseries of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least oneof which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of agripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs ofgripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means tosynchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forgingpress.

4. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having areciprocating tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each ofa pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame betweeneach camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanismfor said camshafts including universal couplings on each of saidcamshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universalcouplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain and pulley drive fromsaid eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drivefrom said eccentric shaft, an output shaft on each of said mitre gearboxes attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplingsand thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of grippingfingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable bysaid camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means formoving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards andaway from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with riseand fall of the tup of said forging press.

5. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft andsaid adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshaftsincluding a universal coupling on each of said camshafts, splinedcouplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentricshaft on said press, chain and pulley drive from said eccentric shaft,adjusting means for said mitre gear boxes for alterating the distancetherebetween, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attachedto one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus saidcamshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of gripping fingers eachhaving two fingers at least one of Which is operable by said camshaftsto move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving saidcamshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from saiddie set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of thetup of said forging press.

6. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft andsaid adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshaftsincluding a universal coupling on each of said camshafts, splinedcouplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentricshaft on said press, chain and pulley drive from said eccentric shaft, aslide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screwassociated with said mitre gear boxes and having left and right handscrew threads and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering thedistance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of saidmitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby saidcouplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series ofpairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of whichis operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a grippingposition, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of grippingfingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise saidmovement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

7. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a rising andfalling tup and a multi-stage die set,

a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, abox section frame between said camshafts and said adjacent side of saiddie set, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames to carryone end of each of said cam shafts, drive mechanism for said camshaftsincluding universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splinedcouplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentricshaft on said press chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, apair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentricshaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traversescrew associated with said mitre gear boxes, left and right hand screwthreads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screwfor altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shafton each of said mitre gear boxes, and attached to one of said splinedcouplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatablein unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingersat least one of which is operable by said camshaft to move into and outof a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairsof gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means tosynchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of the saidforging press.

8. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each adjacent side ofa pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame betweeneach said camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set pivotal sidearms carrying said box section frames, a lever system for moving saidside arms including a cross shaft at each end of said press, a bellcrank lever arrangement on each of said cross shafts having one armextending upwardly from said cross shaft and connected to a commonarticulated rod movable by an eccentric shaft and a pair of second armsextending substantially parallel to the plane of said die set, thelatter arms being connected to said side arms, means for oscillatingsaid cross shafts thereby to move said side arms, said camshaft and saidadjacent side of said die set pivotal side arms carrying said boxsection frames, means for moving said side arms in a vertical arc toraise and lower said box section frames and said camshafts, and meansfor moving said side arms, towards and away from each other duringoperation of said forging press, a mounting bracket on each of said boxsection frames to carry one end of each of said camshafts, drivemechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each ofsaid camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universalcouplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives fromsaid eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drivefrom said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes aremounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, leftand right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel onsaid traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gearboxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to oneof said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshaftsare rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers eachhaving two fingers at least one of which is operated by said camshaft tomove into and out of a gripping position, means for moving saidcamshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from saiddie set and means to synchronize said movement with rise and fall of thetup of the said forging hammer.

9. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stagedie set, a camshaft in a vertical arc, and means for moving said sidearms towards and away from each other during operation of the saidforging press, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames tocarry one end of each of said camshafts, drive mechanism for saidcamshafts, including universal couplings on each of said camshafts,splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, aneccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives from saideccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive fromsaid eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drivefrom said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes aremounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, a leftand right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel onsaid traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gearsboxes, an output shaft on each of mitre gear boxes, attached to one ofsaid splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshaftsare rotatable in unison, a series of pair of gripping fingers eachhaving two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshaft tomove into and out of a gripping position, means for moving saidcamshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from saiddie set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of thetup of said forging hammer.

10. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each said camshaftand said adjacent side of said die set pivotal side arms carrying saidbox section frames, a lever system for moving said side arms including across shaft at each end of said press, a bell crank lever arrangement oneach of said cross shafts having one arm extending upwardly from saidcross shaft and connected to a common articulated rod movable by aneccentric shaft and a pair of second arms extending substantiallyparallel to the plane of said die set, the latter arms being connectedto said side arms, means for oscillating said cross shafts thereby tomove said side arms in a vertical are, an auxiliary frame locatedbetween said side arms at each end of said press, a pair of hydraulicslave cylinders at each end of said press and attached to said side armsand said auxiliary frames, return springs adjacent each slave cylinderadapted to return said side arms to their initial positions after beingmoved apart by hydraulic pressure in said slave cylinders and after saidpressure is relieved, a master cylinder and pump connected to said slavecylinders to operate same and means for operating said master cylinderin synchronism with movements of the tup of said press, a mountingbracket on each of said box section frames, to carry one end of each ofsaid camshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universalcouplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to eachof said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain andpulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes toreceive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which saidmitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with saidmitre gear boxes, left and right hand screw threads on said traversescrew and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distancebetween said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitregear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby saidcouplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series ofpairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of whichis operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a grippingposition, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of grippingfingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronize saidmovement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging press.

11. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die box set, a box section frame between each saidcamshaft and said adjacent side of sa d die set pivotal side armscarrying said box section frames, a lever system for moving said sidearms including a cross shaft at each end of said press, a bell cranklever arrangement on each of said cross shafts having one arm extendingupwardly from said cross shaft and connected to a common articulated rodmovable by an eccentric shaft and a pair of second arms extendingsubstantially parallel to the plane of said die set, the latter beingconnected to said side arms, means for oscillating said cross shaftthereby to move said side arms in a vertical are, an auxiliary framelocated between said side arms at each end of said press, a pair ofhydraulic slave cylinders at each end of said press and attached to saidside arms and said auxiliary frames, return springs adjacent each slavecylinder adapted to return said side arms to their initial positionsafter being moved apart by hydraulic pressure in said slave cylindersand after said pressure is relieved, a master cylnder and pump connectedto said slave cylinders to operate same and means for operating saidmaster cylinder in synchronism with movements of the tup of said press,means for moving said side arms and said box section frames alongsidesaid die set when said side arms are being moved in said vertical are,said means including a camshaft mounted on said press, cam followers onsaid auxiliary frame cooperating with said camshaft and drag linksbetween said side arms and said auxiliary frame, a mounting bracket oneach of said box section frames to carry one end of each of saidcamshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universalcouplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to eachof said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain andpulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes toreceive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which saidmitre gear boxes are mounted, left and right hand screw threads on saidtraverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering thedistance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of saidmitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby saidcouplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series ofpairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of whichis operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a grippingposition, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of grippingfingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronisesaid'movement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging press.

12. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, aseries of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, saidgripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece fromone die to the next and said gripping fingers of a second type beingarranged to rotate said workpiece in addition to moving it from one dieto the next, said gripping fingers of both types being operable by saidcamshafts to move into and out of a gripping position whilst saidcamshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away fromsaid die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of theforging press.

13. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each of saidcamshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison,a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, each ofsaid gripping fingers of the first type having a spigot mounted on saidbox section frame at its face adjacent said die set and arrangedremovably to carry one of said gripping fingers, a second spigotadjacent said fixed spigot arranged removably to carry the other saidgripping finger of said pair, means for moving said second spigot andthus said other gripping finger towards and away from said fixed spigot,means for moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of saiddie set whilst carrying a workpiece, and to return to said one die afterdepositing said workpiece in said next die of said die set, and grippingfingers of a second type arranged to rotate said workpiece through 90 inaddition to moving it from one die to the next of said die set, saidgripping fingers of both types 12. being operable by said camshafts tomove into and out of a gripping position whilst said camshafts and saidgripping fingers are moving towards and away from said die set insynchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

14. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set as set forth in claim 13 in which said second spigotpasses through an aperture in said box ection frame, an arm in said boxsection frame to which said second spigot is attached, a pivot on saidarm remote from said second spigot, a bracket carrying said pivot, a camfollower on said bracket located adjacent said camshaft and means forretaining said cam follower in abutment with said camshaft.

15. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each of saidcamshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison,a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, each ofsaid gripping fingers of a first type having a spigot mounted on saidbox section frame at its face adjacent said die set and arrangedremovably to carry one of said gripping fingers, a second spigotadjacent said fixed spigot arranged removably to carry the other saidgripping finger of said pair, means for moving said second spigot andthus said other gripping finger towards and away from said fixed spigot,means for moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of saiddie set whilst carrying a workpiece, and to return to said one die afterdepositing said workpiece in said next die of said die set, said secondspigot passing through an aperture in said box section frame, an arm insaid box section frame to which said second spigot is attached, a pivoton said arm remote from said second spigot, a bracket carrying saidpivot secured to said box section frame, a cam follower on said bracketlocated adjacent said camshaft and a spring mounted between said bracketand a further bracket mounted on said box section frame for retainingsaid cam follower in abutment with said camshaft, and gripping fingersof a second type arranged to rotate said workpiece through in additionto moving it from one die to the next of said die set, said grippingfingers of both types being operable by said camshafts to move into andout of a gripping position whilst said camshafts and said grippingfingers are moving towards and away from said die set in synchronismwith the rise and fall of the tup of said press.

16. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each of saidcamshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshaft in unison,a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, saidgripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece fromone die to the next, and gripping fingers of a second type arranged torotate said workpiece through 90 in addition to moving it from one dieto the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of said second typeincluding a first spigot, an outer sleeve upon which is fixedly mountedsaid first spigot, a ball bearing mounting for said outer sleeve wherebyit can rotate about its longitudinal axis, a second spigot pivotallymounted in a bore in said outer sleeve, means for removably attaching agripping finger to each spigot, means for pivoting said second spigotand thus said gripping fingers attached thereto towards and away fromsaid first spigot and means for rotating said outer sleeve and thus saidspigots through 90 whilst moving said gripping fingers from one die tothe next of said die set, said gripping fingers being operable by saidcamshaft to move into and out of the gripping position whilst saidcamshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away fromsaid die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of theforging press.

17. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set as set forth in claim 16 in which said outer sleeveis mounted in said box section frame.

18. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of oppositesides of said die set, a box section frame between each of saidcamshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison,a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, saidgripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece fromone die to the next of said die set, and gripping fingers of a secondtype arranged to rotate workpiece through 90 in addition to moving itfrom one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of saidsecond type including a first spigot, an outer sleeve upon which isfixedly mounted said first spigot, a ball bearing mounting for saidouter sleeve and between it and said box section frame whereby saidouter sleeve can rotate in said 'box section frame about itslongitudinal axis which is located transversely of said box sectionframe, a second spigot pivotally mounted in a bore in said outer sleeve,means for removably attaching a gripping finger to each spigot, apartition in said outer sleeve intermediate its ends, a push rod passingthrough said partition and attached to said spigot adjacent its pivotwhereby said second spigot and thus said gripping finger attachedthereto may be moved towards and away from said first spigot and meansfor rotating said outer sleeve and thus said spigots through 90 whilemoving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of said die set,and said gripping fingers being operable by said camshaft to move intoand out of the gripping position whilst said camshafts and said grippingfingers are moving toward and away from said die set in synchronisrnwith the rise and fall of the tup of said press.

19. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having amulti-stage die set as set forth in claim 18 in which said push rod isencircled by a spring, said spring abutting said partition with one ofits ends and abutting a stop with its other end, a spring locatingsleeve carrying said stop located between said spring and said push rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,426,039 8/1922 Candee 10122,974,811 3/1961 Dammert 214-1 3,079,817 3/1963 Sanford 7899 3,105,39910/1963 Strugala 7896 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. \VILLIAM J.STEPHENSON, Examiner. GENE P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner.

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR A FORGING PRESS HAVING A TUP AND AMULTI-STAGE DIE SET, A CAMSHAFT ADJACENT EACH OF A PAIR OF OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID DIE SET, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CAMSHAFTS IN UNISON, ASERIES OF PAIRS OF GRIPPING FINGERS EACH HAVING TWO FINGERS AT LEAST ONEOF WHICH IS OPERABLE BY SAID CAMSHAFTS TO MOVE INTO AND OUT OF AGRIPPING POSITION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CAMSHAFTS AND SAID PAIRS OFGRIPPING FINGERS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID DIE SET AND MEANS TOSYNCHRONISE SAID MOVEMENT WITH RISE AND FALL TO THE TUP OF SAID FORGINGPRESS.